Gear-controlling device



Nov. 23 1926. 1,698,040

- T. sANo GEAR CONTROLLING- navxcr:

Filed July 15. 1926 2 Sheets-$heei 1 INVENTOR WITNESSES ,1- I 6 716m BY ATTOFEN EY New. 23 1926. 1,608,040

T. SANO GEAR CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed July 15, 1926 2 sheetsw-Sheez f:

flmizdro 62000 WITNESS-SE5 W W Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

rom'rano sano or mannnapcamronnra.

GEAR-CONTROLLING DEVICE,

a lication filed July 13,

This invention relates to a gear controlling device, especially adapted to be used in connection with an automobile transmissionmechanism of the planetary type.

I With this type of transmission, as it is usually arranged, the clutch pedalus fully depressed to shift themechanisni into low gear, and is released to shift into high gear. As a consequence, in mountainous regions,

where long steep rades are common, it is necessary to hold the pedal continuously. de-

pressed for a considerable len h of time while running in low gear, and th1s makes driving very arduous.

With the above conditions in mind, it is the object of the present invention to provide a simple and practical device, which -may be used in connection with the usual t pe of planetary transmission, and which 0 viates the necessity of using the foot to I hold the mechanism in low gear. The invention also includes means for positively holding the gear in neutral osition with the clutch disengaged, without eeping the foot on the clutch pedal or setting the emergency brake. The device, which constitutes the invention, may be easily connected in operative relation to the transmission mechanism without any substantial alteration in the con- 30 struction or operation of the latter.

The specific structure of the invention and its mode of operation, together with the ad vantages resulting therefrom, will be more fully explained in connection with the ac- 36 companying drawings illustrating the same.

. In the drawings:

Fi re 1 is a side elevation of an assembly In which the invention is used, parts being broken away Or shown in section, and the gears being in neutral position.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Fi re 3 is a section through the upper part of the device taken on the line 33 of Figure 2,

5 Figure 4 is a section taken, on the line v 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken along the line of the low speed shaft,

parts being shown 'in neutral. position.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing an intermediate step in shifting to low gear.

Figure 7 is a similar View with the parts in low gear position.

- The invention is illustrated in connection 56 with a planetary transmission mechanism located in a housing 9, provided with a re- 1926. Serial No. 122,125.

movable cover plate 10, and located beneath the floor board 11. This typeof'transmission is customarily provided with a reverse pedal shaft 12, a brake pedal shaft 13, and a low gear shaft 14, the clutch and gear pedal for operating the latter being shown at 15. The pedal 15 has an extension 16 below the shaft 14, and this extension is connected by a link 17 "to the lower end of' the clutch lever 18, which is securedto the clutch lever shaft 19. When the pedal 15 is depressed to intermediate position, the shaft 19 is rocked to disengage the clutch, so that the transmission mechanism will be in What is termed neutral position. As usually -constructed, when the pedal 15 is depressed all the Way down, the low gear band is tightened, and the parts are in what is termed 10w gear position. The clutch lever shaft 19 may also be held in disengaging position by an arm 20 secured to a controller shaft 21, whichis actuated by means of the usual hand or emergency brake lever.

The low gear snaft 14, as shown in Figure 5, passes through ears 22 and 23 secured to the ends of the low gear band 24. A cam 25 secured to the shaft 14 cooperates with a cam 26, secured to the inside of the housing 9, to move the shaft 14 longitudinally when the low gear pedal 15 is fully depressed.- This moves the ear 22 and the adjacent end of the band 24 inwardly. In the planetary transmission mechanism as heretofore constructed, the car 23 is seated against a stationary abutment, so that the mediately to tighten the band. 24, and to I throw the mechanism into low gear, and a compression spring, which usually surrounds the shaft 14 between the cars 22 and 23, returns the shaft 14 to its initial position as soon as the pedal 15 is released. In the present construction, however, the ear 23 rests against an abutment '27, whiclfis secured on the shaft 14 itself, so that the depression of the pedal 15 initially moves the band 24 circuniferentially, as shown in Figure 6, without tightening the same. The end portion of the shaft 14, remote from the pedal 15 bears against a plunger 14 which isfilidably nnounted in a bearing 28, which is formed with a socket 29 having a cap 30 and enclosing a spring 31 pressed when the low gear shaft isf moved the position shown in Figure 6, and which expands against the end of the plunger ,to

which is com'- 36, and

restore theshaft'to its initial position as soon as the pedal is released. r a

In order to set the band 24 for operating in low gear, provision is made for preventing the return of the ear 22 to itsouter position when the pedal 15 is released, so t at the restoration of the ear 23 to its initial position, tightens the band 24, and throws the mechanism into low gear, as. shown in Figure 7. This is accomplished through the medium of'an abutment or head-32, carried by the lower endof a which is slidably mounted in a vertical guideway 34, and adapted to be projected downwardly while the pedal 15 is still depressed. he position of the bar 33 is con trolled by a pinion 35 mounted on a shaft projecting through a slot 37 in the guideway 34,.and meshing with teeth 38 formed in the bar 33. The movement of the pinion 35 is controlled by a segment 39 meshing therewith, and secured to a rock shaft 40 mounted in bearings 41 and 42, which are supported on the cover plate 10. A hand operating lever 43 is secured to the rock shaft .40, and is provided with a spring held latch 44, adapted to'engagc one of the notches 45 in a segment 46 secured to the plate 10.

The downward movement of the bar 33 is limited by a pin 47, which rides in a ver-.

ticalslot 48 formed in the the upward movement of the bar is limited by the engagement of the head 32 with the lower end of the guideway. The bearing 41 guideway 34, and

- is permanently secured to the plate 10, While the bearing 42 is removably held beneath a keeper 49 secured by bolts or screws to the plate 10, and carrying a set screw 50 engageable with the hearing. The side of the guideway 34 is also provided with a removable section 51, so that when the keeper 49 is removed, the rock shaft 40 and the segment 39 maybe assembled or disassembled .by moving them endwise.

.An arm 52 is secured to the shaft 40, and a: link 53 is connected at one end to the arm, and at the other end has a pin and slot connection 54 with the end of the clutch lever 18. The slot is so arranged that when the lever 43 is in intermediate or neutral sition, the arm 18 will be positively hel to prevent engagement of the clutch regardless of the position of the arm 20, which 18 0' erat'ed by the emergency brake lever. e pin and slot connection performs the same function when the lever 43 is moved rear- Wardly to low gear position, but is raised when the lever 43 is moved forwardly to high gear position. so as to permit the clutch to become engaged.

In the operation of my invention, assuming that the lever 43- is in intermediate or neutral position, in order to throw the mechanism into low gear, the pedal 15 is delatch bar 33,.

pr 43 is moved rearwardly to lower the bar 33 and head 32, so that the latter is behind the ear 22. N Ow, when the pedal 15 is released, the spring 31 expands and restores the shaft 14 to its initial position, while the ear 22 is held by the abutment or head 32. The ear 23 is forced inwardly by the abutment 27 carried by the shaft 14, and the low gear band 24 becomes set for the transmission to operate in low gear. The automobile may then be driven in low gear without having the foot on the pedal 15.

In shifting to high "gear, the pedal 15 is initially depressed, and the lever 43 is swung forwardly as far as possible. This raises the link 53, and permits the shaft 19 to rock until the clutch engages. 7. At the same time, the low gear band is released, as shown in Figure 5. In makin other shifts, the pedal 15 is depressed and t e lever 43 is moved to intermediate or neutral position.

While I have shown and described the specific construction of the invention in what at present seems to be its preferred form, it is apparent that various modifications may be made in the detailed construction and arrangement thereof without any material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the clalms.

What is claimed is:

1. In a controlling device for planetary gear transmission, the. combination with the low gear shaft and a low gear band having ears through which said shaft passes, of abutments carried by said shaft between which the ears are held, means for temporarily displacing said shaft longitudinally, means for returnin the shaft to its initial position and a late projectable behind the car which follows the other in the displacement of the shaft, thereby causing the band to be tightened when the shaft is returned to initial position.

.2; In a controlli g device forplanetary ear transmission, t lte combination with the lbw gear shaft and a low gear band having ears through which said shaft passes, of abutment's carried on said shaft between which the ears are held, means for temporarily displacing said shaft longitudinally,

means for returning the shaft to its initial ears llll'OllQl'l which said shaft passes, of ahutmenls carried on said shaft between which the cars are held, means'associated with one end of the shaft for displacing it longitmlinally. a plunger hearing against the other end of the shaft, a spring acting on the plunger to restore the shalt to initial position as soon as the displacing means is released, and a latch projcctal'ilc behind the ear which follows the. other in the displacement of the shaft, therehy causing the hand to he tightened when the shaft is returned to initial position.

4-. In a controlling'devicc t'or planetary gear transmission, a transmission hand having terminal ears, means for temporarily displacing the hand circumterentially, means for returning the hand toward its initial position after the release of the displacing means and a latch projectalole behind the ear which follows the other in the displacing movement, thereby causing the hand to be ti htened when the displacing means is re- :3 leased.

In a controlling device for planetary gear transmission, a transmission hand having terminal ears, means for temporarily displacing the hand circumferentially, means for returning the hand toward its initial position after the release of the displacing means, a slidably mounted latch having rack teeth thereon, gearing operatively associated with said rack teeth, and a hand lever controlling said gearing, said latch being so located that when it is advanced, after the hand has been displaced, it will project hehind the e 2' which follows the other car in lhcrehy, causing the displacing movement,

when the displacrarily displacingsaidv shalt longitudinally,

means including a spring for returning the sha H to its iuil ial rosirion. a latch, means for projecting the latch hehiud lhe-ear which follows the other in the displacement of the shaft. therchy causing' the hand to he tightened when the shaft is returned to initial position, a clutch lever, and means connected with the latch o 'icratin r means and operable to positively depress the clutch lever when the latch is pr jected.

7. In a coi'itrolling device for planetary gear transmission, a transmissirm hand havingterininal ears. means for placing the hand circumtercntially, means for returning the hand toward its initial posi! ion when the dis 'ilaciun' meausis released, a latch, means for projecting the latch behind the car which follows the other in the displacing movement, thereby causing the hand to he tightened when the displacing means is released. 'a clutch lever, and means connected with the latch operating means and and opcrahle to positively depress the clutch lc'vcr when th latch is projected,

Tn lcsl imouy. that l claim the foregoing as my own. l have hereto allixed my signature.

'lOMIlT/Ulll SANG.

temporarily dis- I 

